Louisville center Gorgui Dieng, out of action since breaking his left (non-shooting) wrist Nov. 23, will play Saturday against rival Kentucky, CBS Sports reported. Dieng was cleared Wednesday for full-contact practice.

Dieng—a 6-11 junior who averages 8.2 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game—had two screws surgically inserted into the wrist in late November to help accelerate the healing. He averaged 9.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game last season to earn some preseason All-American praise but then was sidelined early in the season by the wrist injury.

Gorgui Dieng has been cleared to return to practice and could play this week against Kentucky. (AP Photo)

"He's in great shape," Cardinals coach Rick Pitino said, per the CBS Sports report. "His defensive timing is off, but he looks good offensively."

The medical clearance is a bit of a surprise. Just last week, Pitino said the wrist was not healing as quickly as hoped and had said a return for the Jan. 2 Big East opener against Providence was a more realistic date than the UK game.

Dieng was injured while drawing a charge against Missouri, a game the Cardinals won comfortably. But Louisville then lost the next day to Duke by five without him. The Cardinals have faced only one significant opponent in December, beating Memphis by 11 on the road with Zach Price and Stephan Van Treese splitting time at center.

Dieng's return will help against the young but athletic Kentucky club. The Wildcats’ offense is dependent on scoring at the rim, and nobody in college basketball protects the rim like Dieng.